Stable metal-safe stripper for removing cured negative-tone novolak and acrylic photoresists and post-etch residue

Abstract

A stripping composition is provided for removing polymeric organic substances from an inorganic substrate. The stripping composition comprises about 3 to about 15 weight percent aromatic quaternary ammonium hydroxide, preferably benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (BTMAH), about 50 to about 87.5 weight percent alkylsulfoxide, a co-solvent preferably a glycol, and, desirably, a suitable corrosion inhibitor and a non-ionic surfactant. Also provided is a method for stripping polymeric organic substances (i.e., negative-tone novolak and acrylic photoresists and post-etch residue) from inorganic substrates by contacting the polymeric organic substance with the organic stripping the BTMAH composition for a period of time sufficient to remove said polymeric substances.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.